Man missing, feared dead, in floodwaters after being swept away as police tried to help

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A man is feared dead after he was washed into dangerous floodwaters in regional New South Wales on Friday afternoon.

The search for the man, who was last seen clinging to a tree branch 30m from the river bank near Wild Cattle Creek Bridge, 23km northeast of Dorrigo, has been suspended for the night.

Emergency services responded to reports that a 4WD had been washed off the bridge into fast running water about 2.20pm on Friday.

The driver got out of the vehicle and grabbed on to a tree branch where he was able to make contact with police. 

Shortly after 3pm however he was swept from the tree and disappeared under the water and has not been seen since.

Police and the SES tried to find the man with the help of a helicopter which later joined the search but their efforts were unsuccessful.

Sometime after 5pm the search was called off due to 'unfavourable weather conditions', a NSW Police spokesman confirmed. 

Emergency services are expected to resume their search for the man on Saturday but their work is now being considered a recovery operation.  

A man is feared dead after he was swept away in dangerous floodwaters off the Wild Cattle Creek Bridge, 23km northeast of Dorrigo, about 2.20pm on Friday

Cyclone Alfred is bringing dangerous weather conditions prior to its landfall early Saturday and NSW Police have urged members of the public to stay safe 

Four million residents across northern NSW and southeast Queensland have already sought shelter as gale force winds reached a peak of 155km/h earlier in the day. 

Torrential rainfall totals of up to 450mm also smashed the region.

Current modelling suggests Alfred is expected to make landfall early Saturday morning near Redcliffe, slightly further north than previously thought.

Heavy overnight rainfalls could lead to dangerous and life-threatening flooding as Alfred approaches the coast.

NSW Police have warned members of the public to adhere to all safety messaging and not to travel onto flooded roadways during the storm.